A group is organizing a wreath-laying ceremony to honor and remember deceased veterans at Tamaqua’s Sky-View Memorial Park. And community support is needed.

Wreaths Across America is an international movement to remember the lives of all deceased veterans.

At noon on Dec. 18, a brief commemoration service will be held at Sky-View, after which volunteers will disperse wreaths on veterans’ graves. The service will include area clergy, vocalist Emily Barrett, and many local veteran service organizations.

Over 3,500 local heroes are laid to rest at Sky-View and the coordinators seek the community’s help in both sponsoring wreaths and volunteering as wreath-layers. A sponsorship ensures that a handcrafted wreath will be shipped to Sky-View Memorial Park.

Wreaths can be sponsored at wreathsacrossamerica.org/PA0524. The deadline is Nov. 20. Online sponsorships are preferable, but wreaths can be sponsored by check or money order.

Volunteers will lay wreaths on the graves and say the names of the veterans to ensure their legacy of bravery, duty, service and sacrifice is never forgotten. Register to volunteer on the Wreaths Across America website.

“Hundreds of volunteers were enthusiastic to participate in the laying of wreaths last year, and it was a painful decision to reorganize the inaugural event,” said Bob Miller of Sky-View’s board of directors, in reference to the last-minute change due to pandemic-related bans on large gatherings. “Nevertheless, the mission was accomplished and every veteran at Sky-View received a wreath.”

Liz and Paul Corinchock and Christine and Eric Zizelmann, who organized last year’s inaugural event, are again serving as local coordinators.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming back that eagerness to honor our local heroes and fully establish this as an annual commemoration for many years to come,” said Christine Zizelmann.

Parking for the event will be at the Hometown Farmers Market and shuttle buses will be provided from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. No traffic will be permitted into the cemetery, except those with a handicapped placard.

“This time last year, a mass wreath-laying program would not have been feasible or safe. We’re so grateful that a wreath was laid on every veteran’s resting place in 2020, but we’re hoping the volunteers who expressed ardent interest last year join us to make this event a community-driven success,” Paul Corinchock said.

For more information, contact Liz and Paul Corinchock at 570-778-5125.